Henry VIII: Government and Wolsey 1509–1529

The accession of Henry VIII in April 1509 marked a dramatic change in the style of English monarchy. Where Henry VII had been cautious, secretive, and financially obsessive, the young Henry VIII was extravagant, charismatic, and ambitious. This lesson examines the first two decades of Henry VIII's reign, dominated by the extraordinary career of Thomas Wolsey, and the crisis that brought Wolsey's fall: the King's Great Matter.

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The Young Henry VIII

Henry VIII came to the throne at the age of 17. He was everything his father had not been.

Characteristic	Detail
Physical appearance	Tall (over 6 feet), athletic, and handsome; excelled at jousting, hunting, and tennis
Education	Highly educated in theology, languages, and music; composed songs and wrote theological treatises
Personality	Charismatic, impulsive, and determined to be a glorious Renaissance prince
Early popularity	Won immediate goodwill by executing Empson and Dudley (his father's hated financial agents) and by presenting himself as generous and accessible
Marriage	Married Catherine of Aragon (his brother Arthur's widow) on 11 June 1509, just before his coronation